Bell and striker mounting apparatus



April 22, 1969 s. w. TEEPLE 3,

BELL AND STRIKER MOUNTING APPARATUS Filed July 14, 1967 Sheet I of 2 INVENTOR.

STANLEY W. TEEPLE BY W,F

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his ATTORNEYS April 22, 1969 s. w. TEEPLE BELL AND STRIKER MOUNTING APPARATUS Sheet Filed July 14, 1967 4 M F 6 f a 0 4 4 m W @0 0 o@ M v 0 v Q 6 6 W wfl fim Z 5 a W INVENTOR.

STANLEY W. TEEPLE his ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 340-696 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A one-piece molded plastic device includes a universal mounting bracket, a bell-mounting support, and a flanged tube. The exterior constitutes a bobbin for a winding and the interior constitutes a housing for a striker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a structure for an electromechanical device and, more particularly, to a novel onepiece molded structure of plastic or other nonmagnetic and electrically-insulating material. The structure is par ticularly adapted to mount a winding, striker, and bell shell to produce a device such as a bell or chime for generating an audible signal.

In the construction of conventional motor mechanisms of bells and chimes and the like, numerous individual parts must be assembled. The assembly of these parts requires considerable time and care. Because of variations in parts and in their assembly, adjustments are required for satisfactory operation of the assembled device.

An object of the present invention is to remedy the shortcomings noted above and, in particular, to provide a simple and inexpensive structure resulting in cheaper manufacture of bells and chimes and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide structure eliminating the final adjustment step required for satisfactory operation of conventional devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a motor mechanism that will work satisfactorily without a magnetic return path.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure that, when used as part of a motor mechanism, will facilitate operation as either an AC or a DC vibrating mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objects are attained in accordance with the invention by the provision of a device for mounting (a) a bell, (b) a movable striker, and (c) a winding which when energized generates a magnetic field causing the striker to move, whereby ringing of the bell is accomplished. The device comprises the combination of hollow tube means the exterior of which constitutes a bobbin for the winding and the interior of which constitutes a housing for the striker having openings at opposite ends. The opening at one end is restricted to retain the striker but permit access thereto. A bell mounting and a pair of end walls or flanges defining the ends of the bobbin are also provided. One of the end walls provides a lead anchorage facilitating suspension of electrical components adjacent to the winding. A pair of legs extend from the bell mounting, and a pair of outstretched mounting feet are carried by the legs. An upstanding terminal support is on each foot. The tube means, bell mounting, end walls, legs, feet, and terminal supports are of integral construction and formed of nonmagnetic and electrically-insulating material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING An understanding of additional aspects of the invention may be gained from a consideration of the following ice detailed description of a representative embodiment thereof, in conjunction with the accompanying figures of the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a structure in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of FIG. 1 as used in a motor mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 as used in an AC vibrating mechanism;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the circuitry of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 as used in a DC vibrating mechanism; and

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the circuitry of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a structure 10 in accordance with the invention. The structure 10 is unitary, formed of a nonmagnetic and electrically-insulating material such as plastic, and includes a horizontal (as seen in the figure) tube means 12. The exterior 14 of the tube means 12, or at least a portion thereof, constitutes a bobbin for a winding 16 shown in FIG. 2. The interior 18 of the tube means 12 (FIG. 2) constitutes a housing for a striker 20 adapted, when the winding 16 is energized, to strike a bell shell 22. The left-hand end 20 (as seen in FIG. 2) of the striker 20 is made of a magnetic material such as magnetic iron, and the right-hand end 20 is made of a nonmagnetic material such as brass or stainless steel. A serving of insulating cloth tape 16' protects the winding 10.

The housing 18 is formed with openings 24 and 26 at opposite ends thereof. The opening 26 permits insertion of the striker 20 into the housing 18 and removal of the striker 20 from the housing 18 when the bell shell 22 is not in place and also permits movement of the striker 20 to the right as seen in FIG. 2 to strike the bell shell 22 in response to energization of the winding 16. The opening 24 is of restricted diameter to retain the striker 20 but permit access thereto by a stitt mechanical linkage 28 shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A. In this way, a switch 30 can be operated as described hereinafter to facilitate DC vibrating operation.

FIG. 1 also shows a pair of end walls or flanges 32 and 34 defining the ends of the bobbin 14. The end wall 34 is formed with apertures 36 and 38 (the latter being partly hiden in FIG. 1 by the bobbin 14). These apertures provide lead anchorage as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 facilitating suspension of electrical components adjacent to the winding 16.

The other end wall 32 is provided with oppositelydisposed slots 40 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1). The slotted end wall 32 thus facilitates lead clearance, as also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 1 shows a bell mounting 42 adjacent to the tube means 12 and at the end of the bobbin 14. The bell mounting 42 is generally cylindrical, and its axis extends at approximately right angles to the axis of the tube means 14. The bell mounting 42 is provided with a cylindrical aperture 44 within which a screw 46 (FIG. 2) may be inserted to hold the bell shell 22 in place. A spacer 47' separates the bell shell 22 from the bell mounting 42. The structure of FIG. 1 is symmetrical about the plane defined by the axis of the tube means and the axis of the bell mounting.

A pair of reinforcement webs 47 and 48 connect the end 50 of the tube means 14 and the bell mounting 42.

A pair of legs 52 and 54 extend from the bell mounting 42. A pair of outstretched mounting feet 56 and 58 are carried by the legs 52 and 54, respectively. The mounting feet 56 and 58 are connected to horizontal (as seen in FIG. 1) portions 60 and 62, respectively, of the mounting legs 52 and 54. A pair of upstanding terminal supports 64 and 66, respectively, are provided on the mounting feet 56 and 58.

The horizontal portions 60 and 62 of the legs 52 and 54 are provided with apertures 70, 72, 74, and 76, there being two apertures in each leg, through which fastening means such as screws 80 (FIG. 2) may be passed to secure the structure to a surface 82.

The terminal parts 64 and 66 are provided with apertures 84 and 86, respectively (FIG. 1), in which terminal screws 90 and 92, respectively (FIGS. 2, 3, and 4), are inserted. The terminal screw 92 is connected to a lead 94 which passes through one of the slots 40 to the winding 16 (FIGS. 3 and 3A). A lead 96 from the other end of the winding 16 is anchored in the aperture 36 (see also FIG. 1) and extends to a diode 98 which is connected by another lead 100 to the terminal 90.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the circuit arrangement shown schematically in FIG. 3A facilitates AC vibrating operation. Specifically, the diode 98 passes current in only one direction, so that AC current applied to the terminals 92 and 90 is passed when of one polarity and blocked when of the opposite polarity, whereby a reciprocating movement is imparted to the striker 20. Removal of the diode 98 from the circuit results in single-stroke operation.

In the arrangement of FIGS. 4 and 4A, the terminal 92 is connected by a lead 101 to a junction 102. A lead 103 extends between the junction 102 and a diode 104. The opposite side of the diode 104 is connected by a lead 106 which is secured in the apertures 38 and 36 (FIG. 1), at the latter of which is a junction 108. A lead 110 extends from the junction 108 to one end of the winding 16, and the junction 108 is also connected to the switch 30. The switch is of the reed type known to those skilled in the art and shown, for example, in a patent to Humphreys et al. No. 3,238,525. The switch 30 is electrically connected by a lead 115 to the terminal 90.

FIGS. 3, 3A, 4, and 4A show but two of the many configurations of the bells adapted to tbe mounted by means of the structure of the invention. While biasing means for returning the striker 20 to the position it normally occupies is not specifically illustrated in the drawing, it is not necessary to rely upon gravity to return the striker 20 to such position. If desired, a spring return may be provided, in which case the motor mechanism performs satisfactorily regardless of its orientation.

In order further to strengthen the structure shown in FIG. 1, an additional web 49 may be povided below the webs 47 and 48. Also, in order to increase the sensitivity of the motor mechanism mounted on the structure of FIG. 1, a magnetic return path 118 may be provided.

It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the tube means 14, end walls 32 and 34, bell mounting 42, webs 47, 48, and 49, legs 52 and 54, including the horizontal portions 60 and 62 thereof, feet 56 and 58, and terminal supports 64 and 66 are a unitary structure. Preferably, the structure is produced by injection molding of a plastic such as acetal resin sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company under the trademark Delrin. In general, any material that is nonmagnetic and electrically-insulating and that possesses a low coetficient of friction is suitable for forming the structure 10.

Thus there is provided in accordance with the invention a novel, one-piece structure facilitating assembly of a bell or chime or the like including the motor mechanism therefor. The relative positions of the winding, bell, and striker are precisely determined by the structure so that laborious final adjustments formerly necessary for satisfactory operation of the bell are obviated. The

structure can be produced by an inexpensive injection molding process. Bell shell of a variety of designs can be used on the structure to produce different sound outputs. Regardless of whether available current is alternating or direct, satisfactory operation of a motor mechanism employing the novel structure of the present invention is readily obtained.

Many modifications of the representative embodiment disclosed herein Will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the relative dimensions of the parts shown need not be limited to the relative dimensions shown in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A structure for mounting (a) a bell, (b) a movable striker, and (c) a winding which when energized generates a magnetic field causing the striker to move, whereby ringing of the bell is accomplished, comprising the combination hollow tube means the exterior of which constitutes a bobbin for the winding and the interior of which constitutes a housing for the striker having openings at opposite ends, the opening at one end being restricted to retain the striker but permit access thereto, a bell mounting adjacent to the bobbin, a pair of end walls defining the ends of the bobbin, one of the end walls providing a lead anchorage facilitaing suspension of electrical components adjacent to the winding, a pair of legs extending from the bell mounting, a pair of outstretched mounting feet carried by the legs, and upstanding terminal supports on each foot, the tube means, bell mounting, end walls, legs, feet, and terminal supports being of integral construction and formed of nonmagnetic and electrically-insulating material.

2. A structure for mounting (a) a bell, (b) a movable striker, and (c) a winding which when energized generates a magnetic field causing the striker to move, whereby ringing of the bell is accomplished, comprising the combination of hollow tube means the exterior of which constitutes a bobbin for the winding and the interior of which constitutes a housing for the striker having openings at opposite ends, the opening at one end being restricted to retain the striker but permit access thereto, an upstanding bell mounting at the end of the tube means and adjacent to the bobbin and having an axis extending at approximately right angles to the axis of the tube means, a pair of reinforcement webs connecting the end of the tube and the bell mounting, a pair of end walls defining the ends of the bobbin, a .pair of legs extending from the bell mounting, a pair of outstretched mounting feet carried by the legs, and upstanding terminal supports on each foot, the tube means, bell mounting, reinforcement webs, end walls, legs, feet, and terminal supports being of integral construction and formed of nonmagnetic and electrically-insulating material.

3. Structure according to claim 2 in which the material is acetal resin.

4. Structure according to claim 2 which is symmetrical about the plane defined by the axis of the tube means and the axis of the bell mounting.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,577 12/1938 Gaynor 340-396 JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner.

HAROLD I. PITTS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

